A report released by the National Research Council assesses the risk associated with operating the proposed National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility in Manhattan, Kansas. Based on the Department of Homeland Security Assessment reviewed by the Research Council Committee - there is nearly a 70-percent chance over the 50-year lifetime of the facility that a release of FMD could result in an infection outside the laboratory. The impact to the economy could be nine-billion to 50-billion dollars.
President and CEO of the Kansas Bioscience Authority Tom Thornton says the risk assessment is intended to inform the future design and future operation…
“It’s being done at a 35% design phase, so much of the work, the finding that the department put together and of course the findings of the research council will be incorporated into, a future design will be incorporated into the operations of the facilities, and again, approximately eight years from now. But, a risk assessment, to be clear, is all about identifying the risk and developing mitigation strategy.”
Thornton says the study shows what needs to be done to make the facility safer…
“Will allow it to achieve that important mission of identifying threat, very real threats to American agriculture.”
Kansas State Vice President for Research Ron Trewyn says the parameters implied in this study have never been applied before…
“No other facility has ever had a cumulative risk assessment, which is used in NASA’s nuclear industry and what not, applied to it. So, to apply parameters that have never been used before, and at least imply a very high level of likelihood that there will be a release from the facility just seems to be inappropriate.”
Department of Homeland Security’s Jamie Johnson says the 70-percent figure is misleading and takes the worst case scenarios unmitigated. He says the Department will not build the lab if they feel it isn’t safe. At one time, Butner, North Carolina was on the short list for the facility before it was awarded to Manhattan, Kansas.
|